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he hesitates. just for a second, but long enough for me to notice.

"because," he finally says, his voice heavier now, "i need you to take my place."

the words slam into me like a gunshot.

i stare at him, my heartbeat roaring in my ears. "take your place?"

he nods. "i'm too sick to attend this year's games. the other v.i.p.'s will see my absence as a sign of weakness. they will look for someone to replace me. if i send you in my place, it ensures our family's standing. and it secures your future."

"my future?" i laugh, but there's no humor in it. "you want me to go sit with a bunch of old men and watch people kill each other?"

he leans forward, his gaze sharper now. "you are my daughter, jia. i have raised you for this world, whether you realized it or not. you are capable of far more than you know. and this... this is your chance to prove it."

my hands shake. not with fear, but with anger.

"so that's it?" i say bitterly. "you're sick, so you're just throwing me into your place like a chess piece?"

he doesn't deny it.

he simply says, "this is your duty."

the weight of it all crushes down on me. i thought i understood my father. thought i knew what kind of man he was. but now, i realize i had only ever seen one percent.

and somehow, i get the feeling that stepping into his world will change me in ways i can never undo.

i take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing in my chest. "what exactly do i need to know about this... squid game? and what am i supposed to do there?"

he leans back in his chair, folding his hands neatly in front of him, his expression unreadable. "first, understand this: the squid game is not just a competition. it's a spectacle. something created for the entertainment of the v.i.p.s. like me - and now, you. it's a tradition for us to attend the games, place bets, and ensure everything runs as planned. it's a show of power and control."

i can feel my stomach turning, but i don't interrupt him.

"the games are held annually, in secret. each participant is desperate - drowning in debt, living on the brink of ruin. but the catch, as i said, is that losing means death. the games are brutal, designed to test physical and psychological limits."

i swallow hard. "and you sit there and watch them die?"

his expression hardens. "this is not about morality. this is about survival. our survival. if you do not attend in my place, our family's name will be tarnished. the others will see it as weakness, and believe me, weakness is not tolerated in this circle."

i sit back in my chair, trying to process everything. "so you want me to just... sit there? watch people kill each other? bet on them?"

"not just sit there," he says, his tone sharper now. "you'll represent me. which means you'll need to mingle with the other v.i.p.s., make connections, and ensure they know you're someone to be respected. you will be my voice, my eyes, my presence. you will ensure our family's name remains untouchable."

i scoff. "and how exactly do you expect me to do that? i don't know these people. i don't even know what the rules are for something like this."

he stands, pacing slowly around his desk. "you're smart, jia. you've mastered strategy, negotiation, manipulation. use those skills. observe. learn. the rest will come naturally."

i shake my head, still struggling to grasp the enormity of what he's asking. "and if i don't go?"

he stops pacing and looks at me, his expression cold. "then the others will see me as weak. they'll turn against us, and everything i've built for you and hana will crumble. our enemies will come for us. you think your life is hard now? try living with nothing, surrounded by enemies waiting for their chance to strike."

i clench my jaw, my mind racing. part of me wants to scream at him, to tell him this isn't fair. but another part of me knows he's right. this isn't about choice. it's about survival - just like everything else in my life.

"when do i leave?" i finally ask, my voice steady despite the whirlwind inside me.

his expression softens, just slightly. "tomorrow."

my breath catches. "tomorrow?"

"you'll fly out with my assistant. he'll explain you everything you need to know about the games, the v.i.p.s, and your role. you'll have all the resources you need to succeed."

"fine," i say quietly, standing up. "but you'd better be right about me being ready for this."

he doesn't say anything, just watches as i turn and leave his office.

as i walk down the hallway, bora is waiting for me, leaning casually against the wall. "so? what did the old man want?"

i hesitate for a moment, then glance at her.

"everything's about to change, bora. everything."

_________________

hello loves!! welcome to my new story <3

sooo, if you've been following my content, you know i wrote another story about the front man called 'affection', and y'all went absolutely crazy for it (still crying over the comments btw).

so here we are again, but this time? my main character isn't just a player or some random guard - nah, she's a vip.

also, let's talk about in-ho for a sec. he's gonna be extra cocky in this story, more arrogant. but it's just gonna make their chemistry even spicier. the tension? through the roof. the angst? coming for your soul.

who's ready to absolutely lose their minds over this?

vote 🌟